Need Help Is my workplace safe ?

[Adamo]

Hi everyone, I'm new here as I stumbled across this forum while searching up some information about what my company use to print.

I've been working for my company for 3 years a Graphics operator and printer and as you can tell the building we operate in is quite old.
They have been running a MIMAKI JV33-130 BS before I started there, in a small printer room very close to where me and my co-worker sit on the PC all day and work from. I now close the door so the fumes can't escape much into our area. I have become concerned as further research shows me this is the cheapest kind of 'Solvent' inks on the market, and that black may contain cancer causing particles and other nasty things. The ventilation system seems very dodgy, as you can see the roof is like getting molded from the fumes I imagine. Is this standard practice ??
My boss is very strict with money and won't budge much with anything us workers need.

Take our new printer for example, a TrafficJet MUTOH Valuejet 1638X, this sits like 4 feet away from me and my co-worker, but with a PUREX 200 ventilation system installed, which works well, but does not effectively get rid of all the eco-solvent ink smell.. Iv'e been told these fumes are not to worry about ? Is this true ?

We also De-gass all our prints, in the same room down the end near the entrance, and the Screen shop is one sliding door away from us as-well where they use all kinds of paints that smell.
So basically I'm surrounded by all these odors and fumes and I don't know if I'm suppose to be worried or I'm just overreacting.

I've become concerned for my health, as admittedly I am a bit of a health freak, and have yet to speak to my Doctor. I've raised concerns with my boss, but he thinks this is all adequate and good enough ventilation.

So I thought I would ask people who are more experienced in this field, and could maybe get some guidance, or reassurance or anything really ? If I need to move on, so be it. Nothing is worth risking my health over. The problem is I do love my job, and the people there treat me well so I'm in a bit of a tricky place right now.

Thank you.

 

[wildside]

the stain on the ceiling is from a water leak, not fumes

I have run a mimaki for years with same standard ventilation and yes the smell can be a little overpowering at times, but the new glow in the dark ability of my skin is fantastic at parties.....

 

[mackenzieGRAPHICS]

I'd be interested to know what the more experienced printers advise. My graphics room consists of the Roland VersaUV LEC-540 and Soljet Pro XR-640 without any ventilation units. We are in a semi-enclosed room off the side of an office area with a large door leading out that way, so if fumes are an issue, we're putting the entire office staff at risk. I haven't had any health concerns since starting here, but it's only been a year. The only thing that bothers me is the smell of the UV inks, but it only causes minor headaches if we're using it all day (we're in a slow season, so it's only been used about 3 times a week).

Anyway, curious to know what others suggest.

 

[Adamo]

the stain on the ceiling is from a water leak, not fumes

I have run a mimaki for years with same standard ventilation and yes the smell can be a little overpowering at times, but the new glow in the dark ability of my skin is fantastic at parties.....

Ahh, you might be right about the water leaks.. I do know the old building is prone to a lot of leaks and damages like that.

Dude what do you mean about your skin, is that a joke ??

 

[papabud]

your shop looks like many others i have seen. my shop is very clean well lit and organized. but its cause thats how i want it.
and yes the stain on the ceiling is water not fumes.
if your that worried about health issues and your boss refuses to do anything. i would suggest searching for a new job

 

[Adamo]

your shop looks like many others i have seen. my shop is very clean well lit and organized. but its cause thats how i want it.
and yes the stain on the ceiling is water not fumes.
if your that worried about health issues and your boss refuses to do anything. i would suggest searching for a new job

Thanks. I am worried, but I get paid decent, and I like my job. So I guess I just wanted to know has there been any reported incidents from prolonged exposures to these fumes ?
Reading the warning label on the BS3 BLACK INK, mentioning, poisoning blood, liver, kidneys, cancers, etc etc really shocked me at the time.

 

[papabud]

yes if you drink it bad stuff will happen. i been in the printing industry for several decades and still in perfect health.

this is my print room.

 

[Adamo]

yes if you drink it bad stuff will happen. i been in the printing industry for several decades and still in perfect health.

this is my print room.

Very neat ! I like it.

Thanks for the information, I highly appreciate it.

 

[gabagoo]

The water leak is most likely from where they cut through the roof to ventilate. I added a fan that sits in the ventilation line to help pull the fumes out faster... works great when printing lots of dark colours...although I have to admit I try to leave the room when printing heavy full coverage.

 

[HDvinyl]

I'd be more concerned with the possibility of asbestos under those tiles on the floor(and exposed).

 

[Gino]

One can never be too safe when it comes to your health, but it looks as though yur boss has it basically under control. Some people are more prone to foul smells than others and some people are afraid to lose their jobs. I would venture to say, with all the ventilation I see, you are basically safe and like papa said, just don't drink the stuff. I've always heard the yellows were the most carcinogenic. Ask for a transfer to somewhere else in the building, leave or just put up with it. I'm sure in a weekend you take in far worse things than a few odors from those printers.

 

[Adamo]

I'd be more concerned with the possibility of asbestos under those tiles on the floor(and exposed).

I just spotted that, thanks for pointing it out. I will look into that on Monday.

One can never be too safe when it comes to your health, but it looks as though yur boss has it basically under control. Some people are more prone to foul smells than others and some people are afraid to lose their jobs. I would venture to say, with all the ventilation I see, you are basically safe and like papa said, just don't drink the stuff. I've always heard the yellows were the most carcinogenic. Ask for a transfer to somewhere else in the building, leave or just put up with it. I'm sure in a weekend you take in far worse things than a few odors from those printers.

Thanks for the reassurance, awesome name btw. Gino is my middle name.

 

[Solventinkjet]

Yes these inks have chemicals in them that cause cancer and birth defects. Children are more vulnerable to the harms of the ink but you should always protect yourself anyway. The yellow especially has nickle in it that is toxic to humans but you don't breath it in. It has to go through your skin or you have to ingest it. Modern inks have way less harmful chemicals but they are still not 100% safe. Older inks actually felt warm when they hit your skin! Get the MSDS sheets and read for yourself. You should always wear gloves if you are going to come in contact with the ink or cleaning solution. You are going to see a lot of printer operators tell you they have been doing it for 20 years and are in good health but if you look at the tech side of things, who come in physical contact with the ink much more often, it is not as pretty. Children are especially vulnerable to the effects of this ink so I always recommend keeping them out of the printing room.

That being said, as a tech I have been to more shops than I can count and I can only name maybe 1 or 2 that have a ventilation system so you are already ahead of the game. Just try not to get a ton on your skin and you should be fine.

 

[myront]

yes if you drink it bad stuff will happen. i been in the printing industry for several decades and still in perfect health.

this is my print room.

Is that an HP360?

 

[Johnny Best]

It's the VOC you have to worry about concerning your health. They are heavier than air and stay close to the floor.
Island Air has a good filtration system which has the charcoal that absorbs the VOC in the room. Have to get new charcoal after about a year or so.

 

[papabud]

Is that an HP360?

yes thats my hp 360 and next to it my mutoh
looking at adding an hp 500 something also

 

[Bly]

Ask your boss if you can work from home?

Just remember what doesn't kill you makes you stranger.

 

[SightLine]

Its only bad for your health if you live in California..... Not sure what it is out there on the west coast but pretty much anything will give you cancer there.

Really though. The exhaust system does not really look dodgy to me. Better than most shops have for sure and similar to the setup I had at our old location.

 

[SFS Production]

yes if you drink it bad stuff will happen. i been in the printing industry for several decades and still in perfect health.

this is my print room.

you have a very nice print room but isn't that a Latex printer not a solvent or eco-solvent. I do agree though I have been in the business for over 24 years and I haven't been any side effects from UV, Eco-Solvent, Latex or Screen Printing Inks.

 

[papabud]

you have a very nice print room but isn't that a Latex printer not a solvent or eco-solvent. I do agree though I have been in the business for over 24 years and I haven't been any side effects from UV, Eco-Solvent, Latex or Screen Printing Inks.

the hp is latex and the mutoh is solvant. i have used many different machines over the years
the one that required the most to run and had the worst smell was my hp indigo 5000. it was a digital printing press and required a separate cooling tower